He moves one of his hands to mine and clasps it in his grasp. His skin feels too cool and it sends a shiver along my spine. His thin lip quirks up, obviously mistaking the response.
He trails a finger along my arm, tracing along the sheer silver sleeve that covers down to my wrists.
“You are most beguiling, you know that?” His eyes remain on the sheer fabric as he toys with the satin material, rubbing it between his thumb and forefinger.
I swallow thickly. His touch makes me feel sickly, the possessive contact sending warning bells in my mind.
He continues his exploration until his fingers trace over my collarbone and slip to the column of my neck. My skin prickles farther, revolting against the pressure.
“Starlight, I’m beyond eager to see you without these fine threads.”
I jerk my gaze up to his face, noticing that his eyes linger along my freckled décolletage.
It takes every restraint I have not to pull away and shake off his hands.
Closing my eyes, I imagine that the caresses are Kassiel’s. The image calms my hammering heart.
A tongue slides along the underside of my jaw nearest my ear, followed by wet kisses that track along my throat.
My stomach churns as I force myself to withstand the onslaught of kisses.
“My King,” a voice interrupts the assault of eagerness, “I had hoped we could talk about The Hidden.”
Thankfuck.
I open my eyes as he peels himself away from me. The Nightmare continues to watch, his eyes raking over me just as lewdly as the kisses from the king.
Kassiel’s voice begins again, with the same nonchalantness they possessed earlier.
“Since we found the young man from earlier in the capitol,” he pauses and takes a drink from his wine glass, “I think it best if we prepare for the prospect of them being here.”
Annoyance rolls off King Euron's shoulders as he stretches in his chair.
I realize then that this is exactly the ploy Kassiel planned to use to dismiss him from the dinner so he could go search with Rune and Jessamine for the leirunes.
“If you really feel that now, during the celebration of my rule, is the best time to discuss these hindrances,” the king stands, voice raising, “then you can remove yourself from this table and go promptly fuck off and quit interfereing with my festivities.”
The Nightmare covers his laugh though not in time to stop the snicker of laughter from pelting out.
The court grows silent again, watching yet another scene unfold they’ll undoubtedly gossip about.
Kassiel slowly rises in his seat, shrugging off the willowy fingers that encircle his wrist, desperately.
“Now Devourer,” the woman’s cadence makes me want to stab my dagger into my ear, “ask for forgiveness so you may sit with me the rest of the night, pleaseee.” She whines out the ‘e’ of the word, it's laced with desperation.
He simply turns to her and bows his head, before removing himself from the table and promptly makes his way out a butler's door that's nearest his seat.
“What a skid.” The rejection is venom on her lips. She tosses her napkin on her plate while a sneer forms on her face.
The Nightmare grasps her arms and loudly declares, “That’s okay Lady Marion, I’ll happily entice you instead.”
His devious eyes ignite as he dons a rakish smile.
She doesn’t return the sentiment. Her sneer pulls farther up and she rolls her eyes as she rips her arm away from him.
“Not on your life, Orlin.”
She shifts her body to the now empty seat, her back facing The Nightmare. His face twists with rejection as he snatches the goblet nearest him and takes a long draw of the draft.
